Kuban honours cultural veterans while launching new talent initiatives
A ceremonial event took place at the Krasnodar State Institute of Culture on March 25. Viktoria Lapina, the minister, attended to honour long-serving cultural workers and recognise new initiatives. The gathering highlighted both veteran contributions and fresh opportunities for young professionals.
During the event, Lapina presented certificates of honour and letters of gratitude to the institute's top employees. She thanked cultural veterans for their dedication to Kuban's artistic life. Among those recognised was Anatoly Gorbul, a People's Artist of the RSFSR and Hero of Labor of Kuban. With nearly 70 years in the arts, he has performed close to 200 roles and holds a Golden Mask National Theatre Award.
Irina Goncharova, a ballet instructor at the Musical Theatre's children's studio, also received praise. She has worked for almost 30 years with the *Premiere* creative collective. The institute itself serves as a key training centre for Kuban's cultural sector. The ceremony also showcased new programs supporting young talent. The *Zemsky Culture Worker* initiative has already employed 33 specialists and plans to hire another 100 this year. Meanwhile, the *Pushkin Card* program, launched in Krasnodar Krai, leads similar efforts nationwide. No data was provided on how many other regions have adopted comparable schemes.
The event celebrated both experience and innovation in Kuban's cultural scene. Veterans like Gorbul and Goncharova were honoured for decades of service, while new projects aim to bring in fresh talent. The institute continues to play a central role in training and supporting the region's artists.
